Apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like



April 25, 1944. DENZLER 2,347,403

APPARATUS FOR RESEATING FLUSH VALVES OR THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l IN V ENZOR.

40 B 2 Z 18 AoRNEY.

April 25, 1944. a DENZLER I 2,347,403

APPARATUS FOR RESEATING FLUSH VALVES OR THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 l NV ENTOR.

BY Berfoia fienaler A RNEY.

Patented Apr. 25, 1944 APPARATUS roa RESEATING FLUSH VALVES on THE LIKEBerthold Denzler, Chicago, 111., assignor of onehalf to Esther G.Oswianza, Chicago, 111., and one-half to Peter Fah, Chicago, 111.

Application June 20, 1941, Serial No. 398,897

13 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for renovating flush valves and likeequipment, and more particularly to apparatus for, excising .worn ordefective valve seats therein and for Teaming, fiatting and threadingthe valve supporting members thereof so that the same may be providedwith detachable prefabricated valve seats.

United States Patent No. 1,714,573, issued May 28, 1929, to William E.Sloan, illustrates a type of flush valve which is used extensively inplumbing fixtures. Valves of this kind are so constructed that they donot function properly if the position of the valve seat is changed evena small fraction of an inch. Regrinding worn or corroded valve seatstherefore is out of the question, so that it hitherto has been necessaryto replace the entire casing whenever the valve seat became corroded.

It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a compact,portable, sturdily-constructed, foolproof and inexpensive apparatus withwhich flush valves or the like may be reseated in a few minutes bypersons without special mechanical training.

A further object is to provide apparatus which removes the valve seatfrom a flush valve, diaphragm valve, or similar device, reams out anannular recess of predetermined proportions in the valve supporting tubethereof, and threads said annular recess, whereby said flush valve orthe like repeatedly may be renovated simply by screwing a prefabricated,replaceable valve seat into said threaded annular recess.

Another object is to provide apparatus adapted to reseat flush valves insuch manner that the renovated valve seat occupies a position identicalwith that occupied by the original valve seat when it was new.

Yet another object is to provide, improved reaming and threadingapparatus specially designed to function in valve casings.

A still further object is to provide a combination adapted toposition'itself with respect to a valve casing whereby atube in saidcasing may be reamed and threaded strictly parallel to the axis of saidtube.

Still another object is to provide apparatus of maximum simplicity,economy, ease of use, safety, and reliability.

The foregoing and such other objects, advantages, and capabilities asmay appear herein or be pointed out as this description proceeds, or

as are inherent in the present invention, are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in central verticalsection, of the reamer and chuck of the present invention in operativerelation to each other and the casing of a flush valve about to bereseated.

Figure 2 is an inverted sectional plan view looking upward on line 22 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view looking upward on line 3-4 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly in section, andshows the upper portion both of my new reamer and of the valvesupporting tube, at the end of the reaming operation.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the cutter which I employ in myimproved reamer.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view, partly in central verticalsection, of the tap and chuck of the present invention in operativerelation to each other and the casing of a flush valve, the reamed outvalve supporting tube of which is about to be threaded.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the tapping die which I employin my improved tap.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in central vertical section of the upperportion of the valve supporting tube in a new flush valve.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in central vertical section of the valvesupporting tube shown in Figure 8 after-said tube has been reseatedaccording to the presentinvention.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in thedrawings and in the description of the invention which follows.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises the reamer I shown inFigure 1, the tap 8 shown in Figure 6, and the chuck ,which, as is shownin Figures 1, 3, and 6, is a part both of the reamer assembly and of thetap assembly.

The reamer I is provided with a cutter 5. As is more plainly shown inFigure 5, said cutter is-a rod of suitable material (such as tool steelor the like), machined at each end to provide a pair of cutting elementsl0, III, which face in opposite directions. Each of said cuttingelements has three cutting edgesa reaming edge ll a beveling edge l2,and a flatting edge I3. The cutter 5 may be drilled to provide a keywayM for securing it in the diehead 9.

Said diehead 9 is a block, adapted, as is shown in Figure 2, to fitsnugly into the valve supporting tube 8 of the flush valve II which isto bereseated. The diehead 9 is provided with a transverse horizontalpassageway between opposite faces thereof, and also with a suitablekeyway vided near its upper end with passageways I5, I5,

adapted to receive a lever I6 for rotating the same.

The lower portion of the diehead is hollow, and

the open lower end thereof is threaded both ex ternally and internally.

The machine bolt I8 comprises the reamer. The head of said bolt lieswithinthe chamber in the diehead 8, and the neck thereof passes throughthe threaded washer 20 which is screwed into the bottom of the diehead8. The helical compression spring 2| rests upon said threaded washer 20,and the bolt I9 is supported within the diehead by the engagement of thebolt headwith saidsp'ring2l I The threaded lower part of the bolt I8 isground of! on opposite sides so astoprovide two relatively fiat,unthreaded surfaces 22,22. The crosssection of the bolt in this regionis oblong, as is plainly shown in Figure 3. The'reamer is provided witha thumb nut 26', threaded to screw'on the bolt l8, and with a washer 21which has an oblong hole adapted to prevent rotation of the washer withrespect to said bolt I8. The outer rim of said washer 21 has a'pair ofsubstantially parallel side's, adapted to be fitted into the slot 38 inthe chuck 4 to prevent rotationof the washer, and thus of the bolt I8,as will be apparentfrom an'inspection of Figure 3.

Extending downwardly from :the diehead .8: is the stop collar 23 (Figure1); If desired, said collar23 may be provided wlth'a telescoping sleeve24. The threaded washer"25 screws" intothe bottom of the collar 23 andcooperates withthe flanged upper end'of ,the sleeve 24 to preventdisengagement of said sleeve from/said. collar.

Said telescoping sleeve 24rrests'upon the table 32 of the chuck 4. Saidchuck 4;comprises a block having a horizontal plane face 3.2, aninternally threaded upstanding annular rim; 33, a :downwardly projectingmassive rib 34, andan inter,- nally threaded sleeve bearing 35. Theappearance of the bottom of said chuck v4 is apparent in Figure 3. Thesection of said chuck which is shown in Figure l is taken on line II ofFigure 3; the section shown in Figure ,6 is taken online5-8ofsaidFlgure3.-

The annular rim 33 of the chuck 4 is adapted to have the outlet 38 ofthe valve casing I'I screw into it; the sleeve bearing 35 similarly isadapted to engage the tap feed screw 30 (see Figure 6).

Said annular rim 33 and said sleeve bearing 35 have a common axis, andthe chuck face 32 is per-. pendicular to this axis. As is more plainlyshown in Figures 1 and 3, the rib 34 isprovided with a median transverseslot 33, adapted'toreceive the washer 21 in the manner mentionedbefore.

Referring now to Figure 6, it will be seen that the tap 8 comprises acapstan 28, a guide block 29, and a feed screw 38, all in onepiece, anda tapping die I carried in said guide block 29. As is more clearly shownin Figure, 7, said tapping die 1 is a rod ofsultable material (such astool steel or the like), with a semicircular plu cut away at eachend.,The semicircular ends of said rod are threaded to formja pair oftapping elements 3|, 3|, which face in opposite directions. The threadson the ends ofsaid die ,I areground off distal to the cutting edges. asisshown at 43,

the shaft or to avoid stripping the threads cut in the valve supportingtube 8 when the tap he removed therefrom. The tapping die I may beprovided with a suitable keyway I4 for securing it in the guide block28.

Said guide block 28 is similar in shape to the reamer diehead 8, andlike the latter, is adapted to fit snugly into the valve supporting tube8 which is under-repair. The tapping die is secured in the guide block29' by similar means and in relatively the same position as the cutter 5is secured with relation to the diehead 9. The capstan portion 28 of thetap Iilikewise is similar to the upper region of-the reamer I, Thefeedscrew 38 and the tapping die I are threadeddn the same sense; both havethe same pitch, and both arecentered upon the same axis,

namely, the central longitudinal axis of the tap 8.

The above described apparatus is used in the following manner:

The mechanism is removed from the flush valve which is' to be repaired,and the-valve. casing I7 is disconnected from the pipeline. The chuck 4is screwed to the casing outlet 38 and turned until the chuck table 32is incontact with the casing I I. The reamer I then is fittedinto thevalve-supporting "tube v8 in the manner shownin Figures 1 and 2, thebevelededses 40, 48, 40, 48 of the.

reamer diehead, 8 fitting snugly intothe valvesupporting tubel'8, sothat the latter serves as a guide for the reamer. The washer2l isplacedupon the threaded'bolt shaftIS and said shaft is rotated until said'washer .21 can be engaged in the transverse slot 38 in the rib. 34 orthe chuck 4-.- The thumb nut 28 then isscrewed onsaidbolt shaft. I9, andis tightened manually.. Since the washer 2! in locatedposition in theslot 38 prevents the bolt I8- pfromturning, further rotation of thethumbnut 25 pulls saidmachine'bolt downwardly, thereby compressingthe-spring 2|- The tension, upon said spring is transmitted through thebolt-retaining washer 28 and the diehead 8 tothe cutter 5.; The reaminedge II, II thus is held in cutting engagement against the valveseat 4|.From the foregoing it will beapparentthat the cutter is held against thework by. the-predetermined and controllable pressure exerted by thespring 2 l.

The chuck rib 34 may be clamped in a vise to facllitate thereseatingoperations. A rod or similar lever I6 is inserted in one of thepassageways I5, l5 in'the reamer diehead, and said diehead is rotatedthereby. As the cutting edges II, II ream out the inner surface of-thetube 8, the diehead 8 moves downwardly and the tension of the sprin 2Iis reduced. This minimizes'any risk of spoiling the work by over-zealousoperation. From time to time, the spring 2I is recompressed by furthertightening the thumb nut 26, and as the diehead is revolved, theflatting edges I3, I3 cut away the corroded valve seat, leaving the topof the tube 8 perpendicular to the axis thereof. The beveling edges I2,l2 cut a bevel which connects the reamed out regionwith the flat top ofthe tube. The cutting operation continues in the above described manneruntil the stop collar 23 strikes the chuck table 32. Thisprevents'further downward translation of the cutter, so thatconthe valvecasing.

' the reamer l.

The condition of the valve-supporting tube 8 at the end of the reamingoperation is illustrated in Figure 4, the portion which has been cutaway being apparent from the dotted lines. The reamer I is shOWn in thetube 8, with the cutter in contact with the work.

As is shown in Figure 2, the diehead 9 preferably is constructed toleave a number of spaces or channels between the wall of the tube 3 andthe sides of the diehead, through which may fall the chips produced bythe operation of the reamer. Otherwise, said chips might mar the work bybeing ground againstthe work by the guiding edges 40, 40, 40, 40.

In case the reamer is provided with a telescoping sleeve 24, said sleeverests upon the chuck table 32 throughout the course of the reamingoperation, and thus prevents chips from falling into the chuck bearing35. Thus there is no risk that stray chips may cause the threads to bestripped g? the bearing 35, the bolt l9, or the thumb nut Of course, thesleeve 24 may be constructed to surround the stop collar 23, rather thanto slide within it. The stop collar 23 and the'diehead 9 may beconstructed in one piece. I find it more convenient, however, to makethe collar and sleeve subassembly detachable from the diehead. By

providing a plurality of stop collars of various heights, and aplurality of cutters of various sizes,

my improved reamer may be employed on the widest variety of flush valvesand similar devices.

It should be noted that. the chuck 4 is not merely a means for holdingthe work in a vise. As a matter of fact, the valve casing ll may be heldin one hand while the lever 16 is operated with the other. The chuck 4is indispensable, however, because the chuck table 32 serves as one of apair of gauges (the stop collar 23 being the other) whereby the depth towhich the reamer cuts is predetermined and controlled. Further, saidchuck 4 is an element of the mechanism for bearing the cutter againstthe work under a predetermined pressure. In cooperation with the lockwasher 21, the chuck 4 also serves to prevent rotation of the bolt [9,so that rotation of the nut 26 results in translation of said bolt IS.The chuck also aids in centering the cutter 5 with respect to the work,thereby assuring that the annular recess will be coaxial with the tube8, and that the reamed ofi top thereof will be, perpen dicular to saidaxis.

After the reaming operation has been completed in the manner alreadydescribed, the thumb nut 25 and its washer 21 are removed from the shaftl9, and the reamer l is lifted out of the casing ll, said casingremaining in the chuck 4. The tap 6 then is inserted into the tube 8,and the feed screw 30 is screwed into the chuck sleeve bearing 35 withthe aid of the lever l6. .As is pp from Figure 6, the feed screw 30 actsas a pilot, and its engagement with the sleeve bearing 35 insures propercentering of the tap 6. Engagement of the guide block edges 40', 40',40, 40' with the tube 8 further serves to align the tapping die Iproperly.

Further rotation of the tap 6 causes the tapping die I to thread thereamed out wall of the tube 8, the initial engagement of the die withsaid wall being facilitated by the bevel cut in said tube by Since thefeed screw 30 and the threaded bearing 35 have the same pitch as thetapping die 1, the positive engagement of the feed screw 30 in thebearing 35 assures that the tube 8 will be threaded accurately.

The threading operation may be continued until the die I reaches theshoulder 42. The tap .then is rotated in the opposite direction in orderto remove it from the work. The rounded or beveled end regions 43, 43 ofthe tapping die enable the tap to be removed without any risk ofstripping the newly-cut thread. The engagement of the feed screw 30. inthe threaded bearing 35 is a further protection, for it forces thetapping die to follow the newly-cut thread exactly while the tap isbeing removed from the work.

The reseating job is completed by screwing an annular valveseat, such asis shown at 44 in Figure 9, into the threaded annular recess which hasbeen prepared as above described in the valvesupporting tube -8. Saidannular valve seat 44 is externally'threaded so as to screw into saidthreaded annular recess, and isprovided with a beveled shoulder and asmooth fiat top. Said valve seat 44 is screwed into said annular recessuntil the shoulder on the valve seat makes contact with the bevel cut inthe tube 8 by the reamer I.

Figure 8 represents the upper portion of the valve-supporting tube 8 ina new flush valve; Figure 9 illustrates the appearance of a corrodedtube 8 after it has been reseated as herein described. When the shoulderof the annular valve seat 44 is in contact with the bevel at the top ofthe repaired tube, the top of the valve seat 44 occupies exactly thesame relative position as the top of the tube 8 in a-new valve casing,as will'be apparent by comparing Figures 8 and 9.

In course of use, the valve seat 44 may become so worn or corroded thatit is necessary again to reseat the casing I1. All that is necessary isto screw out the worn valve seat 44 and replace it with a newannularvalve' seat. Thus my improved apparatus need be used only once onany one flush valve, which thereafter may be renovated anindefinitenumber of times without special equipment by the simple expedient ofreplacing the worn valve seat by a new one. While I have described andillustrated preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variationstherefrom may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.I have fully disclosed new and improved apparatus for reseating flushvalves and the like, together with the construction, operation andadvantages of the same, and I have pointed out the manner in which myinvention accomplishes the objects hereinabove set forth, as well asothers which will be apparent from the specification, drawings, andclaims herein. I-also have explained how my improved apparatus may beemployed to renovate valves and the like which otherwise would beuseless.

--Having thus described my invention and illustrated its utility, Iclaim:

1. In apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like, mechanismcomprising a block adapted to fit snugly into the tube to be reamed andhaving a. recess in the bottom thereof, means for rotating said block, arod transversely disposed in said block and having a pair of cuttingelements at opposite ends thereof, a bolt having the head thereof withinthe recess in said block, a portion of the shaft of said bolt beingthreaded and flattened, a washer surrounding the shaft of said bolt andfastened to said block to retain the head of said bolt within saidrecess, springing means retained between said washer and the head ofsaid bolt, 9. stop collar extending downwardly from said block, asliding sleeve attached to said stop collar, a chuck adapted to befastened to a flush valve or the like and having a plane face adapted tocontact said stop collar, a rib on said chuck, said chuck and said ribbeing perforated, said rib having a slotted recess adjacent saidperforation, a nut adapted to screw on said threaded bolt, and a washersurrounding said bolt and adapted to fit into said slotted recess toprevent rotation of said bolt.

2. A reamer comprising a recessed block adapted to fit snugly into thetube to be reamed, a threaded bolt having the head thereof retainedwithin the recess in said block, a spring within said recess operativelyconnecting said block and said bolt, a rod in said block substantiallyperpendicular to the shaft of said bolt, a pair of cutting elements atopposite ends of said rod, and an apron on said block surrounding aportion of said bolt.

3. A reamer comprising a recessed block adapted to fit snugly into thetube to be reamed, a threaded bolt having the head thereof retainedwithin the recess in said block, a spring within said recess operativelyconnecting said block and said bolt, a. rod in said block substantiallyperpendicular to the shaft of said bolt, and a pair of cutting elementsat opposite ends of said rod.

4. A reamer comprising a'rotatable guide element adapted to fit snuglyinto the tube to be reamed, a separate threaded shaft, cutting meansdisposed in said guide element substantially perpendicular to'saidshaft, spring means joining said shaft to said guide element, and anapron on said guide element surrounding a portion of said shaft.

5. In apparatus'for reseating flush valves or the like, mechanismcomprising 5a, first block adapted to be rotated, a cutting elementfixed to said block, a shaft, resilient means connecting said shaft withsaid block, a second block adapted to retain the work being reseated andhaving a perforation through which said shaft may pass, means for movingsaid shaft through said perforation, and means attached to one of saidblocks and designed to contact the other ofsaid blocks to limit thetranslation of said first block toward said second block.

6. Apparatus for reaming valve seats in flush valves and the like,comprising a guide element to be inserted in one end of a valve and tobe rotated therein, a cutting element fixed thereto, a chuck to beattached to the other end of said valve, spring means operativelyconnected with said guide element for pressing said cutting elementagainst the valve seat, means connecting said spring means and saidchuck, and means for translating said connecting means relative to saidchuck to energize said spring means.

7. In apparatus as defined in claim 6, a stop on said guide elementadapted to. contact said chuck to limit the action of said cuttingelement upon said valve.

8. Apparatus for reaming tubular structures, comprising a first memberadapted to be attached to one end of said structure, a second memberadapted to be inserted in the other end of said structure and to berotated therein, reaming means attached to said second member, springmeans operatively connected with one of said members and adapted topress said reaming means against the work, means connecting said springmeans with the other of said members whereby said members may be movedtoward each other to energize said spring means, and a stop disposedbetween said members to maintain a predetermined separation thereof.

9. Apparatus for reaming tubular structures, comprising a first portionadapted to be attached to one end of said structure, a second portionadapted to operate on the other end of said structure, reaming means onsaid second portion, resilient means operatively connecting saidportions and adapted to be energized by drawing said portions towardeach other, said resilient means applying the working pressure to saidreaming means.

10. Reaming mechanism comprising a block adapted to be rotated withinthe tube to be reamed, a rod transversely disposed in said block andhaving a pair of cutting elements at opposite ends thereof, a shaft,spring means connecting said shaft with said block, a collar attached tosaid block and surrounding a portion of said shaft, and a sliding sleeveon said collar.

11. Reaming mechanism comprising a guide adapted snugly to fit withinthe tube to be reamed and rotatable therein, a reaming element fixed tosaid guide, a spring for maintaining cutting pressure upon said reamingmeans, a threaded member for applying force to said spring, feed meansfor said threaded member to control the pressure of said spring on saidreaming means, and a telescoping apron surrounding a portion of saidthreaded member.

12. In apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like, a chuck havinga substantially plane face, an internally threaded annular rim enclosingsaid face, a slotted rib substantially perpendicular to said face, andan aperture conn Ecting said face and the slot in said rib.

13. In apparatus for reseating flush valves or the like, a chuck havinga plane face, an internally threaded upstanding annular rim, adownwardly projecting rib having a transverse slot therein, and athreaded sleeve bearing piercing said chuck perpendicular to said planeface and connecting with the slot in said rib, the threads in saidannular rim and said sleeve bearing having a common axis.

BERTHOLD DENZLER-

